Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Israeli Doctors Reject Netanyahu Allies' Anti-LGBTQ Remarks
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 2 years ago on
December 27, 2022

Share

Israel’s largest medical center and health care workers from hospitals around the country have spoken out against remarks by allies of Benjamin Netanyahu calling for a law to allow discrimination against LGBTQ people in hospitals and businesses.

It was part of a broader blowback against remarks made this week by Religious Zionism politicians calling for legal discrimination against LGBTQ people.

Netanyahu’s new government — the most religious and hard-line in Israel’s history — is made up of ultra-Orthodox parties, an ultranationalist religious faction and his Likud party. It is to be sworn in on Thursday.

Earlier this week, two Netanyahu allies from the ultranationalist Religious Zionism party said that their faction seeks to change an anti-discrimination law in a way that would permit businesses and doctors to deny service to LGBTQ people on the basis of religious belief.

Orit Struck, a Religious Zionist lawmaker, said her party seeks a change to the country’s anti-discrimination law that would include allowing religious health care providers to refuse to treat LGBTQ patients “so long as there are enough other doctors to provide care.”

Sheba Medical Center released a video on Instagram of health care workers from around the country on Monday saying “we treat everyone.” Similar statements were made by doctors and administrators at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa and Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon.

Netanyahu later rebuked Struck for her remarks, saying there would be no curtailing of LGBTQ rights under the new government.

The uproar could be a sign of what lies ahead for Netanyahu and his new government. His partners are seeking widespread changes that could alienate large swaths of the Israeli public, raise the risk of conflict with the Palestinians and put Israel on a collision course with some of its closest supporters, including the United States and the American Jewish community.

Netanyahu has sought to portray himself as the responsible adult in the coalition and already issued a series of statements guaranteeing to protect the rights of LGBTQ people. But his partners hold great leverage because they support new legislation that could ultimately freeze or dismiss criminal charges against Netanyahu.

The long-time leader, who served 12 consecutive years before he was ousted last year, already has agreed to put a hard-line politician known for his anti-Arab views in charge of the national police force and put another hard-line settler leader in charge of West Bank settlement policies.

A third religious lawmaker who opposes LGBTQ rights has been given widespread authority over the national education system, and Netanyahu reportedly also has agreed to increase unpopular subsidies to ultra-Orthodox men who do not work or serve in the army.

Yated Neeman, a newspaper affiliated with one of the ultra-Orthodox parties in Netanyahu’s coalition, published an editorial against the Religious Zionism politicians, saying they were “defaming Judaism worldwide” and branding the future government as “one that persecutes Arabs, minorities and discriminates against people on the basis of religion and more.”

Several Israeli companies said they would not work with businesses that discriminate against clients for religious reasons.

Bank Discount, Israel’s third largest bank, said Monday that its board decided that it “would not grant credit to businesses or bodies that discriminate against clients on the basis of religion, race, sex or sexual orientation.”

Wiz, an Israeli cybersecurity company, expressed “grave concern” over Religious Zionism politicians’ remarks and said it would require companies hiring its services to commit not to discriminate against its clients.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

California’s Effort to Hold Oil Companies Liable for Natural Disaster Damage Stalls

DON'T MISS

Trump: Israel Would Be ‘Leader’ of Iran Strike if Tehran Doesn’t Give Up Nuke Program

DON'T MISS

California Families Question if College Benefits Outweigh Increasing Costs

DON'T MISS

Fewer Americans Say the Israel-Hamas War Is Important: Survey

DON'T MISS

Clovis Teen Bicyclist Dies After Being Hit Near Bullard and Temperance

DON'T MISS

New Kaweah Health Clinic Is Coming to Woodlake

DON'T MISS

Israeli Strike on Gaza Apartment Building Kills at Least 23, Officials Say

DON'T MISS

Senate Confirms Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as Trump’s Ambassador to Israel

DON'T MISS

Wall Street’s Euphoria Sends Stocks Soaring After Trump Pauses Most of His Tariffs

DON'T MISS

New Mexico Governor Mobilizes National Guard to Tackle Crime Emergency in Albuquerque

UP NEXT

Israeli Strike on Gaza Apartment Building Kills at Least 23, Officials Say

UP NEXT

Trump Pauses Tariffs on Most Nations for 90 Days, Raises Taxes on Chinese Imports

UP NEXT

Trump’s Trade War Escalates as China and Europe Hit Back

UP NEXT

EU Imposes New Tariffs on $23 Billion in US Goods in Retaliation

UP NEXT

Iran’s President Opens Door to US Investment, Reaffirms Nuclear Peace Stance

UP NEXT

Eyewitnesses Recount Deadly Israeli Attack on Medics in Gaza

UP NEXT

An Explosive Clock Is Ticking on Iran and Its Nuclear Program

UP NEXT

Trump Says US Will Talk to Iran About Ending Tehran’s Nuclear Weapons Program

UP NEXT

Trump, Netanyahu Will Meet Today on Tariffs and the War in Gaza

UP NEXT

Russia Says Trump’s Threats Against Iran Could Trigger ‘Global Catastrophe’

Fewer Americans Say the Israel-Hamas War Is Important: Survey

1 hour ago

Clovis Teen Bicyclist Dies After Being Hit Near Bullard and Temperance

2 hours ago

New Kaweah Health Clinic Is Coming to Woodlake

2 hours ago

Israeli Strike on Gaza Apartment Building Kills at Least 23, Officials Say

2 hours ago

Senate Confirms Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as Trump’s Ambassador to Israel

3 hours ago

Wall Street’s Euphoria Sends Stocks Soaring After Trump Pauses Most of His Tariffs

3 hours ago

New Mexico Governor Mobilizes National Guard to Tackle Crime Emergency in Albuquerque

3 hours ago

This Is Fresno Unified’s Last Chance to Get It Right: Editorial

4 hours ago

California Youth Soccer Coach Accused of Killing 13-Year-Old, Assaulting Other Teens

4 hours ago

Kash Patel Has Been Replaced by Army Secretary Driscoll as Acting Head of the ATF

5 hours ago

California’s Effort to Hold Oil Companies Liable for Natural Disaster Damage Stalls

SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers have blocked a bill to make oil and gas companies liable for damage to homes from natural disasters caused...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

California’s Effort to Hold Oil Companies Liable for Natural Disaster Damage Stalls

1 hour ago

Trump: Israel Would Be ‘Leader’ of Iran Strike if Tehran Doesn’t Give Up Nuke Program

Photo of smiling college graduates holding their degrees
1 hour ago

California Families Question if College Benefits Outweigh Increasing Costs

1 hour ago

Fewer Americans Say the Israel-Hamas War Is Important: Survey

2 hours ago

Clovis Teen Bicyclist Dies After Being Hit Near Bullard and Temperance

2 hours ago

New Kaweah Health Clinic Is Coming to Woodlake

Palestinians hurls a stone at Israeli forces following a military raid in the West Bank refugee camp of Balata, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP/Majdi Mohammed)
2 hours ago

Israeli Strike on Gaza Apartment Building Kills at Least 23, Officials Say

3 hours ago

Senate Confirms Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as Trump’s Ambassador to Israel

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend